52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025 – Week 17: DNA

NOTE: I accepted the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge headed by fellow genealogy blogger Amy Johnson Crow. The idea behind this challenge is that you will receive email prompts, a word or phrase, every week, and you find something about your research or family history to write about.  Click HERE to read my first 52 Ancestors blog post in 2019.

When I first started researching in 2011, the hottest genealogy topic was DNA. The genetic DNA tests were becoming more popular and affordable. More people were starting to test with companies like Ancestry, My Heritage, and Family Tree DNA. All the buzz was about genetic DNA tests. One of my first introductions to genetic DNA testing was watching the first season of Finding Your Roots in 2012 with Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. I was always so amazed with all the information he was able to give his guests using DNA.

With all that I had read about genetic DNA testing, the connections that could be made, and how it could advance my research, I really thought that it would be a magic key unlocking all of this new and exciting information into my research. I took my first genetic DNA test through Ancestry.com in 2015. I patiently waited for almost four months for the email that my test results were back. I opened that email and clicked on the link and just stared at the screen. I was excited because my initial reasoning for testing was to learn about my African heritage. That part I was excited to learn about. But the next screen with all of the names of people that I didn’t know, and centimorgans that I didn’t understand made me remember why I hated microbiology in college so much.

For me, my genetic DNA results didn’t bring me the results I expected. Partly because I haven’t done the work to learn more about genetic DNA and genealogy. I know the basics that I learned in microbiology 25 years ago. But beyond that and triangulation, I am at a loss when it comes to my matches and such. It doesn’t help that I actually love going to the library and researching in the traditional way. It’s what I know best, what I prefer, and what has given me the most success thus far.

So yes, I have a love-hate relationship with genetic DNA testing. I have had great moments of joy and personal growth when it comes to my DNA results. But I have had many more moments of confusion and frustration. Even with the challenges, I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. Every twist and turn has brought me closer to the truth—and to a deeper understanding of who I am. And you never know, I may come around and DNA could become my best friend in this family history journey. So I’m going to keep an open mind about it.